Rescuer of Elian Gonzalez Speaks Up
for Life

One of the newest advocates of saving the unborn
is the man who saved Elian Gonzalez from the Atlantic Ocean. Recently
interviewed by Fr. Frank Pavone, director of Priests for Life, Donato Dalrymple
recounted how God used him to "pluck little Elian out of the water," and how God
used Elian to bring him to a deeper spiritual life.

Donato was fishing with his cousin when he noticed an inner tube floating on
the water, with what looked like a person hanging onto it. The boat moved on in
a different direction, but Donato's conscience would not let him rest until he
and his cousin went back to take another look at the tube, and found Elian.

"It was actually Elian who saved me," Donato says, "because I was out on the
seas in my own life, and the rescue of Elian brought me back to a closer walk
with God. God taught me that he could still use me to do some good."

It was Donato who was holding Elian in the famous news photo of a
gun-brandishing US federal agent sent to physically remove the boy. The raid
took place on April 22, 2000.

Recently spending time on a pro-life retreat offered by Priests for Life,
Donato reflected on how followers of Christ are called to save the lives of
their brothers and sisters. "The most vulnerable of all are the unborn," he
said. "Just like I could not rightly ignore that boy in the inner tube, so none
of us can ignore our brothers and sisters in danger of abortion. We all need to
speak up for them and try to save them."